Strawberry plant named ‘Caprice’

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a new and distinct strawberry plant designated as ‘Caprice’ (a.k.a. ‘109862’).

Latin name of the genus and species: Fragaria x ananassa.

Varietal denomination: ‘Caprice’ (a.k.a. ‘109862’).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry plantdesignated as ‘Caprice’ (a.k.a. ‘109862’).

‘Caprice’ (a.k.a. 109862) is the result of a controlled-cross between afemale parent cultivar designated ‘109013’ (not patented) and a maleparent cultivar designated ‘Crystalina’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,867)made by the Inventor and was first fruited in Watsonville, Calif.growing fields. Following selection and during testing, the plant wasoriginally designated ‘109862’ and subsequently named ‘Caprice’.‘Caprice’ is a day-neutral plant.

This new strawberry plant was asexually reproduced via runners (stolons)by the inventor at Watsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from theoriginal source have been tested in Watsonville growing fields and to alimited extent, grower fields in high elevation. The properties of thisplant were found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. Thisplant is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive strawberry plantdesignated as ‘Caprice’ (a.k.a. ‘109862’). This plant is primarilyadapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast ofCalifornia. This region provides the necessary temperatures required forit to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit productionfrom March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the neededhumidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintainfruit quality for the production months.

The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish thestrawberry plant ‘Caprice’ from known strawberry plants. In addition,this plant was confirmed, or will be confirmed to be a unique strawberrygermplasm using Short Sequence Repeats (SSRs). Plants for the botanicalmeasurements in the present application were grown as annuals. Any colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

‘Albion’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,228) is a commercial strawberry varietythat is similar to, but distinguished from ‘Caprice’. The fruit yield of‘Caprice’ exceeds the yield of ‘Albion’ in multiple annual testingcycles performed at the breeder's test location in Watsonville, Calif.‘Caprice’ presents fruits that are smaller than the fruit of ‘Albion’.The cull rate 15 of marketable fruit is lower than the cull rate of‘Albion’.

When compared to the proprietary male parent, ‘Caprice’ has smallerfruit than its male parent. Additionally, ‘Caprice’ produces more fruitand is a larger plant than the male parent. When compared to theproprietary female parent, ‘Caprice’ is a larger, more upright plantthan the female parent. Additionally, ‘Caprice’ has longer petioles andlarger fruit than the female parent.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of thecultivar as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions.

FIG. 1 shows ‘Caprice’ plant about 6-month old.

FIG. 2 shows ripe and near-ripe fruits of ‘Caprice’ about 8-month old.

FIG. 3 shows flowers of ‘Caprice’.

FIG. 4 shows fruits of ‘Caprice’.

FIG. 5 shows cut fruits of ‘Caprice’.

FIG. 6 shows upper leaf of ‘Caprice’.

FIG. 7 shows lower leaf of ‘Caprice’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

‘Caprice’ (a.k.a. ‘109862’)

The following traits in combination distinguish strawberry variety‘Caprice’ from the known strawberry varieties. Plants for the botanicalmeasurements in the present application were grown as annuals. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

‘Caprice’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions, and the phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment. The following observations, measurements, and comparisonsdescribe this plant as grown under normal conditions in Watsonville,Calif. unless otherwise noted. The plants were 8-month old when theobservation was made.

TABLE 1 ‘Caprice’ Characteristics Type Characteristic ‘Caprice’ GeneralCross date 2014 Jan. 17 Age of plant when described 8 months Selffertility Not tested Thrips susceptibility Low Powdery Mildewsusceptibility Moderate Plant habit Annual Plant growth habit UprightDay length Day neutral Planting season Fall Root type Fibrous andbranching Root color (RHS color code) 18C to 155B Plant Height (cm) 35Plant Width (cm) 32 Density of foliage Medium Plant vigor Moderate tohigh Freezing quality Moderate Rain/weather tolerance Moderate Harvestease Moderate Crown diameter (cm) 8.0 to 10.0 Leaf Trifoliate leaflength (cm) 14.5 to 16.0 Trifoliate leaf width (cm) 13.0 to 14.0Trifoliate leaf shape Flat Leaf blistering Weak Leaf glossiness StrongLeaf variegation Absent Number of leaflets per Leaf 3 Terminal leafletwidth (mm) 70 to 80 Terminal leaflet length (mm) 77.5 Terminal leafletlength/width ratio 0.9 to 1.03 Number of teeth/terminal leaflet 25 Shapeof terminal leaflet Orbicular Shape of the terminal leaflet apex RoundedShape of the terminal leaflet base Obtuse to rounded Shape of terminalleaflet in Straight cross-section Shape of terminal leaflet marginSerrate to crenate Color of upper side of leaflets 137A (RHS color code)Color of lower side of leaflets 137C (RHS color code) Limbs Petiolelength (cm) 26.5 Petiole diameter (mm) 3.68 Petiole texture PuberulousPetiole pubescence medium to dense Medium to dense Petiole pose of hairshorizontal Horizontal Petiole color (RHS color code) 145A Petiolulelength (cm) 1.5 Petiolule diameter (mm) 2.32 Stipule number 2 perpetiole Stipule length (cm) 2.5 Stipule width (cm) 0.7 Stipule shapeLanceolate Stipule apex Acuminate Stipule margin Entire Stipule baseTruncate Stipule texture Puberulous Stipule pubescence Medium to denseStipule anthocyanin Weak Stipule color (RHS color code) 149D Stipuleanthocyanin color (RHS color 58B to 55A code) Pedicel length (cm) 11.0to 22.0 Pedicel diameter (mm) 2.0 to 2.6 Pedicel color (RHS color code)145A Pedicel texture Puberulous Pedicel pubescence Sparse Peduncle sizeMedium Peduncle length (cm) 7.0 to 14.0 Peduncle diameter (mm) 2.59 to3.65 Peduncle texture Puberulous Peduncle pubescence Medium Attitude ofhairs on petiole and Upwards pedicel Inflorescence Time of flowering(50% of plants in March to April bloom) Lastingness of bloom 7 to 10days Inflorescence position relative to Above foliage Number of flowersper inflorescence 3 to 6 Flower arrangement of petals Touching Flowerdiameter (cm) 2 Flower bud shape Globose, obovate Flower bud length (cm)1.7 to 2.5 Flower bud diameter (cm) 1.1 Flower bud texture PuberulousFlower bud pubescence Dense Flower bud color (RHS color code) 145B Petallength (cm) 1.3 Petal width (cm) 1.5 Petal length/ width ratio 0.87Number of Petal per flower 5 to 6 Upper Petal color (RHS color code)155C Lower Petal color (RHS color code) 155C Petal shape Orbicular Petalapex Rounded Petal margin Entire Petal base shape Concave Corolla depth(mm) 9 to 13 Corolla diameter (cm) 2 Floral Calyx diameter (cm) 3 to 4Calyx diameter relative to corolla Larger Inner calyx diameter relativeto Equal to smaller outer calyx Sepal number per flower 10 Sepal length(cm) 1.1 Sepal width (cm) 0.7 Sepal shape Elliptical Sepal apex ConvexSepal margin Entire Upper sepal texture Smooth Lower sepal texturePuberulous Lower sepal pubescence Medium Upper sepal color (RHS colorcode) 137A Lower sepal color (RHS color code) 137C Pistil number 121 to286 Pistil length (mm) 2.0 to 2.25 Shape of stigma Capitate Color ofstigma (RHS color code) 12A Length of style (mm) 2 Color of style (RHScolor code) 4A Color of the ovary (RHS color code) 145A Length of thestamens (mm) 4 Number of stamen 23 to 25 Anther diameter (mm) 1.0 to1.25 Anther length (mm) 1.0 to 2.0 Shape of anther Dorsifixed Size ofanther Medium Color of anther (RHS color code) 12A Amount of pollenMedium Color of pollen (RHS color code) 12A Length of filament (mm) 4Color of filament (RHS color code) 149D Stolon Stolon length (cm) 33 to77 Stolon number 2 to 5 Stolon shape Filiform Stolon anthocyanin (RHScolor code) 181A Stolon thickness Medium Stolon texture PuberulousStolon pubescence Sparse to medium Widest diameter of stolon at leaf4.62 attachment (mm) Stolon color (RHS color code) 145A Fruit Number offruit per truss 2 to 4 Fruiting truss length (cm) 7.0 to 14.0 Fruitingtruss diameter (mm) 3.50 to 7.65 Fruiting truss attitude Prostrate Shapedifference between primary & No shape secondary fruits differencePredominant fruit shape Conic Fruit calyx diameter (cm) 3.3 to 5.3 Colorof calyx (RHS color code) 136A Position of calyx Even Level of adherenceof calyx Medium Pose of calyx segments Spreading to reflexed Size ofcalyx in relation to fruit Equal Fruit length (cm) 34.1 Fruit width (cm)29.5 Fruit length/width ratio 1.16 Fruit skin color (RHS color code) 41AFruit flesh color excluding core (RHS 44A color code) Fruit core color(RHS color code) 41A Fruit weight (g) 22.7 Relative fruit size MediumFruit glossiness Medium Firmness of flesh Medium Evenness of flesh colorNearly even Hollow core length (cm) 1.1 to 2.7 Hollow core width (cm)0.8 to 1.5 Hollow core length/width ratio 1.38 to 1.80 Hollow core sizeMedium Width of band without of achenes Narrow Position of achenes inrelation to skin Below surface surface Achene color (RHS color code)145B Achenes per fruit 288 Achene weight (g) 0.17 Surface/skin textureSmooth Texture when tasted Medium Flavor Sweet Sweetness (brix) 10Acidity (pH) 3.45 Type of bearing Day neutral Time of fruit ripening Mayto June Harvest maturity (50% of plants June with ripe fruit) Firstpicking harvest Mid-March Last picking harvest Mid-September Appearancescore 4 Storage longevity 8 to 10 days Yield (kg per plant per season)2.791 Cull rate: 100% - Marketable yield % <15%

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberryplant named ‘Caprice’ substantially as shown and described herein.